Duster with vacuum internal to handle

ABSTRACT

A duster configured to be used by a user and held by a hand, comprising a lower chamber, a middle chamber, an upper chamber, a head, a control mechanism, and an extension.

BACKGROUND

There are currently an assortment of vacuum cleaners on the market.However, they are often bulky, vehicular or otherwise too heavy to liftand move about freely. These bulky vacuums often come with a hose whichmay be moved more freely, but it is attached to and must remain inproximity to the main portion of the vacuum, from which it draws itssucking power and transmits the debris it sucks in through the hose.

There are small vacuums that may be wielded with one hand, but they arestill cumbersome to use because while they can be carried and directedby the hand, they cannot be used as extensions of the arm for tworeasons. First, the bulk of the vacuum is usually below a handle, sothat there is a disconnect between the axis of the hand and arm and theaction of the vacuum. Second, the bulk of the vacuum and itsrelationship to the handle prevents the user from easily changing theangle of action without moving the entire arm upward or downward, andconsequently, areas where the user may wish to vacuum but are too highfor arm to be angled downward but require a downward line of action dueto some impediment or obstacle, cannot be reached.

SUMMARY

The subject of this application is a handheld vacuuming apparatus. Theapparatus comprises a housing, a head, and an extension.

The housing comprises a lower chamber, a middle chamber, and an upperchamber. The lower chamber may be permanently or removably attached tothe middle chamber, and the middle chamber may be permanently orremovably attached to the upper chamber. Each chamber features a sidewall, but may also feature one or more dividers. A divider may operateas a top wall or ceiling for one chamber and a bottom wall or floor foranother chamber. A divider may feature a channel providing communicationbetween one chamber and another chamber.

Each chamber may be threadably engaged or otherwise removably attached,or they may be permanently fixed or molded together.

The lower chamber may be contoured so as to be comfortably held by auser's hand, and may accordingly feature one or more finger ridges. Thelower chamber may also feature a control panel comprising one or morebuttons, switches, or related features, preferably on a portion of aside wall opposite a portion featuring the finger ridges in order to bepressed by a thumb while being held in an ergonomical manner. In anotherembodiment, a button may be disposed in a finger ridge fitted to theindex finger of a user's hand.

The lower chamber is ideally between 1.5 and 2 inches in diameter, inorder to provide a user with an adult hand size an adequatecircumference for a wrapping grasp of the device. The diameter can bulgein the middle of its length in order to provide a relatively flushcontact with the palm.

The lower chamber may feature a lidded battery cavity or a lidded cablecavity, enabling either battery or outlet power. A motor cavity, housinga motor, may be disposed in the lower chamber as well. The motor may bein electrical communication with the power supply and mechanical androtational communication with a shaft or pin, and may accordingly bepositioned between a battery cavity and the middle chamber. The shaft orpin may traverse the lower and middle chamber by means of a channel andbe engaged to a fan on its end opposite the motor. The shaft may becoaxial with the handle, specifically the axis that spans the longestdimensions of the handle.

The middle chamber may feature one or more vents on the side wall,enabling airflow egress. The vents constitute horizontal bands or holesand may be stacked in one or more columns disposed on the side wall.Preferably, the middle chamber is divided from the lower chamber exceptfor the channel, which traverses a divider between the middle chamberand the lower chamber, thereby sealing off the middle chamber from thelower chamber. The fan may be disposed in this middle chamber. The fanmay feature one or more wings connected to a central portion configuredto receive the shaft or pin. The wings may be angled and contoured so asto provide the greatest application of force on transient air as the fanspins around the shaft.

The middle chamber is preferably between 2 and 3 inches in diameter,which is larger than the lower chamber, in order to provide additionalroom for a wider fan, which is ideally between 0.25 and 1 inch less indiameter than the middle chamber.

The upper chamber may be in open fluid communication between the middlechamber and the head by means of openings in the dividers. The upperchamber may the feature a framing mechanism configured to receive afilter. The filter may be a thin layer of carbon material shaped like across section of the upper chamber. In one embodiment, the cross sectionis circular. The framing mechanism may wrap around one or more sides ofthe filter or may clip the filter into place by means of a clippingmechanism.

The upper chamber may have the same diameter as the middle chamber inorder to optimize the contact between the filter and the fan andvacuuming activity of the middle chamber. In one embodiment, a portionof the side wall of the upper chamber tapers to a smaller diameterideally sufficient to fit the head, thereby facilitating the fluidcommunication of air between the head, the upper chamber, and the middlechamber. Also, a lack of corners or a decrease thereof eliminates unusedspace and materials. In one embodiment, the head tapers to meet theextension and the upper chamber walls are approximately cylindrical.

The housing may have one or more grooves, threads, beads, or lockingmechanisms to engage with grooves, threads, beads, or locking mechanismsdisposed on the head. The head may comprise a spherical, semi-spherical,cylindrical, conical, or frustum-shaped chamber with an opening toengage with the upper chamber and a second opening to engage with theextension. The head may fit over and around the upper chamber or enterinto it. By fitting the head over and around the upper chamber, moresurface area is provided for a user to grasp and remove the head fromthe upper chamber.

The head may be made of a clear or transparent material to allow a userto see the quantity of dusty or debris that has been vacuumed therein.

The extension may be threadably engaged, snap-fitted, or tight-fitted tothe head. The extension may in part enter an opening at a far end of thehead, opposite the near end which engages with the upper chamber.

The extension may feature a stem, which is in part inserted into thehead, but extends outward and may feature a set of bristles or othercomponents that facilitate the gathering of dust from surfaces. Thestem, which may be straight, curved, or bent, may feature one or morehollow channels and one or more openings along the stem or at an end ofthe stem to permit fluid communication between the outside and the upperand middle chambers of the device. The openings may be long slots or anarray of holes arranged in one or more lines extending along a main axisof the extension or circumferentially around the stem. The openings mayhave a width between 1/32nd and ¼ of an inch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of an exemplary duster;

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of an exemplary duster;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of an exemplary duster;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an exemplary duster;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of an exemplary duster;

FIG. 6 shows a back view of an exemplary duster

FIG. 7 shows a cut-away side view of an engagement mechanism of anexemplary duster;

FIG. 8 shows an extension component of an exemplary duster;

FIG. 9 shows an intersectional view of an exemplary duster;

FIG. 10 shows an intersection view of an exemplary duster.

FIG. 11 shows an exemplary extension.

FIG. 12 shows an exemplary extension.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the device features a lower chamber 100, a middlechamber 102, an upper chamber 104, a head 106, and an extension 108. Thelower chamber is attached to the middle chamber, the middle chamber isattached to the upper chamber, the upper chamber is attached to thehead, and the head is attached to the extension. Attachment means mayinclude molding the components as one piece, threadable engagement,click-in-place mechanisms, magnets, or snap-fit extensions. The chambersmay be made of any feasible material that resists deformation, heat, andis not electrically conductive. Preferably, surfaces will be smooth foreasy cleaning.

The lower chamber features a control panel 200, a set of ridges 202, abulge 204, and a battery cavity 206. The control panel may comprise oneor more buttons or switches. In one embodiment, a button is positionedon the bulge and the bulge is disposed on a side of the lower chamberopposite the finger ridges, thereby allowing for control of the deviceusing the thumb. The bulge is designed to be held substantially flushwith the palm for more ergonomic use of the device. The bulge and fingerridges may be made of a hard plastic or like material, or be formed froma compressible or elastic material for increased comfort. The averagediameter of the lower chamber may be between 1.5 and 2 inches, but thebulge and finger ridges may widen the diameter to the upper range of 2inches or exceed it. The length of the lower chamber may be between 3.5and 5 inches.

The middle chamber features a series of openings or vents 300. The ventsmay be arranged in columns, with the columns arranged side-by-side andwrapping around the wall of the middle chamber, which may becylindrically-shaped. The middle chamber may have an average diametergreater than the average diameter of the lower chamber, preferablybetween 2 and 3 inches, thereby providing a greater internal space ofthe fan 304 diameter. The middle chamber may measure in length 0.5 to1.5 inches.

The upper chamber may be concentrically continuous with the middlechamber. The upper chamber may measure between 2 and 3 inches indiameter, and in a preferred version less than 0.25 inches larger orsmaller than the middle chamber, thereby taking full advantage of thediameter and pulling surface of the fan. As shown in FIG. 7, the upperchamber and the head feature an engagement mechanism including a bead404, a bead track 302, and an impediment 304.

As shown in FIG. 8, the head features a cylindrical portion 400 and atapered portion 402. In one embodiment, the cylindrical portion featuresthe bead on an inner surface, this bead disposed substantially inward sothat the head may be fitted to the upper chamber which features a beadtrack on an outer surface, the bead aligning with and traveling down thebead track in a direction toward the lower chamber. Accordingly, theupper chamber diameter is slightly less than the cylindrical portion ofthe head. The bead track may feature a circumferential portion that isorthogonal to the main portion of the track and wrapping partiallyaround the upper chamber, thereby permitting the head to be rotated withrespect to the upper chamber. Once the bead passes onto thecircumferential portion, the head and upper chamber can no longer beseparated along an axis featuring the upper chamber and the lowerchamber, but instead must be rotated in a reverse direction so that thebead may once again align with and navigate the main portion of the beadtrack. To decrease the ease with which the upper chamber and the headrotate with respect to one another, an impediment, such a smallextension of the base material, may extend from the track between thecircumferential portion and main portion of the track. Additional forceis required by the user to overcome the resistance posed by theimpediment to rotation. Preferably, the cylindrical portion of the headcomprises the same diameter as the middle chamber, so that when the headcovers the upper chamber, the outer walls of the head and the middlechamber are flush, thereby providing an easier cleaning surface.

The extension features a stem 500, a seal 502, an opening 504, and a setof bristles 506 which are disposed on the stem and extend outwardradially from it. The stem is a hollow structure in fluid communicationwith the opening 504 and the head via a second opening (not shown) thattraverses the seal. The diameter of the stem may measure between 0.25 to1 inch, though in another embodiment, them stem is approximately of thesame diameter as the head.

As shown in FIG. 9-10, the lower chamber features a housing for a motor208, the motor electrically connected to a power source 210 and acircuit board 212. The middle chamber features a fan 304, and a channel306. The upper chamber features a frame 404, a filter 406, a divider408, a top opening 410 and a bottom opening 412.

As shown in FIG. 11-12, the stem can be bent, curved, angular, orpivotable.

1. A duster configured to be used by a user and held by a hand,comprising a lower chamber, a middle chamber, an upper chamber, a head,and an extension, the lower chamber attached to the middle chamber, themiddle chamber attached to the upper chamber, the extension removablyattachable to the head, the head removably attachable to the upperchamber; the lower chamber having an average diameter between 1.5 and 2inches and a length between 3.5 and 5 inches and comprising a bulgecontoured to a palm of the hand of the user and a set of finger ridgescontoured for fingers of the hand of the user, the bulge disposed on afirst side of the lower chamber and the set of finger ridges disposed ona second side of the lower chamber, the bulge comprising a controlmechanism; the middle chamber having an average diameter between 2 and 3inches and a length between 0.5 and 1.5 inches and comprising an outerwall embedded with a set of vents, the outer wall being approximatelycylindrical; the upper chamber being concentrically andcircumferentially continuous with the middle chamber and the head andcomprising a bead track and an impediment, the bead track having a mainportion and a circumferential portion, the impediment disposed betweenthe main portion and the circumferential portion; the head beingconcentrically continuous with the extension and comprising acylindrical portion and a tapered portion, the cylindrical portionconfigured to receive the upper chamber and comprising a bead configuredto engage with the bead track of the upper chamber; the extensioncomprising a stem, the stem being hollow and comprising a hollow cavity,a first opening, a second opening, and a seal, the first opening andsecond opening in fluid communication with the hollow cavity, the secondopening disposed on the seal, the seal configured to attach to an end ofthe tapered portion of the head; the lower chamber comprising aninterior cavity, the interior cavity comprising a motor housing, themotor housing comprising a motor, the motor disposed concentrically withthe lower chamber and between the bulge and the finger ridges andconfigured to rotate a shaft, the shaft traversing a channel spanningbetween the lower chamber and the middle chamber, the shaft engaged to afan positioned in the middle chamber; and the upper chamber comprising aframe, a filter, a divider, a top opening, and a bottom opening, theframe configured to hold the filter, the divider separating the middlechamber and the upper chamber, the bottom opening disposed in thedivider and configured to provide fluid communication between the upperchamber and the middle chamber, the top opening configured to providefluid communication between the upper chamber and the head.
 2. A dusterconfigured to be used by a user and held by a hand, comprising a lowerchamber, a middle chamber, an upper chamber, a head, a controlmechanism, and an extension, the lower chamber attached to the middlechamber, the middle chamber attached to the upper chamber, the extensionattached to the head, the head attached to the upper chamber; the middlechamber comprising an outer wall embedded with a set of vents; theextension comprising a stem, the stem being hollow and comprising ahollow cavity, a first opening, and a second opening, the first openingand second opening in fluid communication with the hollow cavity; thelower chamber comprising an interior cavity, the interior cavitycomprising a motor housing, the motor housing comprising a motor, themotor configured to rotate a shaft, the shaft traversing a channelspanning between the lower chamber and the middle chamber, the shaftengaged to a fan positioned in the middle chamber; and the upper chambercomprising a filter, a top opening, and a bottom opening, the bottomopening configured to provide fluid communication between the upperchamber and the middle chamber, the top opening configured to providefluid communication between the upper chamber and the head.
 3. Theduster in claim 2, the lower chamber having an average diameter between1.5 and 2 inches and a length between 3.5 and 5 inches.
 4. The duster inclaim 2, the lower chamber comprising a bulge contoured to a palm of thehand of the user and a set of finger ridges contoured for fingers of thehand of the user, the bulge disposed on a first side of the lowerchamber and the set of finger ridges disposed on a second side of thelower chamber.
 5. The duster in claim 2, the control mechanism disposedon the lower chamber.
 6. The duster in claim 2, the middle chamberhaving an average diameter between 2 and 3 inches and a length between0.5 and 1.5 inches.
 7. The duster in claim 2, the upper chamber beingconcentrically and circumferentially continuous with the middle chamber.8. The duster in claim 2, the upper chamber being concentrically andcircumferentially continuous with the head.
 9. The duster in claim 2,the head being concentrically continuous with the extension.
 10. Theduster in claim 2, the upper chamber comprising a bead track and animpediment, the bead track having a main portion and a circumferentialportion, the impediment disposed between the main portion and thecircumferential portion.
 11. The duster in claim 10, the head comprisinga bead configured to engage with the bead track of the upper chamber.12. The duster in claim 2, the head comprising a cylindrical portion anda tapered portion, the cylindrical portion configured to receive theupper chamber.
 13. The duster in claim 2, the upper chamber furthercomprising a frame and a divider, the frame configured to hold thefilter, the divider separating the middle chamber and the upper chamber,and the bottom opening being disposed in the divider.
 14. The duster inclaim 2, the head being removably attachable to the upper chamber. 15.The duster in claim 2, the extension being removably attachable to thehead.
 16. A duster comprising a lower chamber, an upper chamber, and anextension, the lower chamber attached to the upper chamber, theextension removably attachable to the upper chamber; the upper chamberbeing concentrically continuous with the lower chamber and extension andcomprising an outer wall embedded with a set of vents; the extensioncomprising a stem, the stem being hollow and comprising a hollow cavity,a first opening, a second opening, and a seal, the first opening andsecond opening in fluid communication with the hollow cavity, the secondopening disposed on the seal, the seal configured to attach to the upperchamber; the lower chamber configured to be held by a user and held by ahand and comprising an interior cavity, the interior cavity comprising amotor housing, the motor housing comprising a motor, the motorconfigured to rotate a shaft, the shaft traversing a channel spanningbetween the lower chamber and the upper chamber, the shaft engaged to afan positioned in the lower or upper chamber; and the upper chambercomprising a filter, a top opening, and a bottom opening, the bottomopening configured to provide fluid communication between the upperchamber and the lower chamber, the top opening configured to providefluid communication between the upper chamber and the extension.
 17. Theduster in claim 16, the lower chamber having an average diameter between1.5 and 2 inches and a length between 3.5 and 5 inches.
 18. The dusterin claim 16, the lower chamber comprising a bulge contoured to a palm ofthe hand of the user and a set of finger ridges contoured for fingers ofthe hand of the user, the bulge disposed on a first side of the lowerchamber and the set of finger ridges disposed on a second side of thelower chamber, the bulge comprising a control mechanism.
 19. The dusterin claim 16, the upper chamber comprising a cylindrical portion and atapered portion, the cylindrical portion configured to receive the lowerchamber.
 20. The duster in claim 16, the upper chamber furthercomprising a frame and a divider, the frame configured to hold thefilter, the divider separating the lower chamber and the upper chamber,and the bottom opening disposed in the divider.